2-7 Triple Draw Rules

How To Play 2-7 triple Draw lowball poker

A game that has lost much of it’s luster since the 70’s and 80’s, 2-7 Triple Draw is a lowball game that took a backseat to games like Omaha and Texas Hold’em in the 90’s to present. It can still be played at online sites such as PokerStars (best room for 2-7 Triple Draw) and all the rooms on the Merge Gaming network but it’s tough to find this game played live in casinos. Regardless, it’s a great game to master because as more Hold’em players migrate to other games you can crush these players if you brush up on the game today. In the Triple Draw version players are dealt 5 cards and are given the opportunity to “stand pat” and not draw or draw from zero to all five cards. This betting goes ‘round three times, hence the name “Triple Draw”.

The object of the game is to get the best possible low hand without getting a flush or a straight, as these count against you. The best possible hand in Deuce to Seven Triple Draw is 7,5,4,3,2. Unlike other poker games, the Ace card is HIGH so a wheel straight (A,2,3,4,5) isn’t possible. Playing 2-7 Triple Draw

Similar to Hold’em you have blinds and a button and all five cards are dealt to each player face down. There are no “door” cards like in Razz poker or 7 card stud so never make the mistake of flipping up any card. The action after the deal is just like Hold’em with the first player after the blinds making his move of folding, calling, or raising. After this takes place you now have the option of drawing from one to all of your cards.

The proper way to do this is to separate your discards (the cards you don’t wish to play) and mucking them to the dealer. Keep the cards you want to play behind the cards you plan to muck to ensure that the dealer doesn’t take those as well. Once this has occurred you will have three more rounds of action and a showdown, just like Hold’em.

Suits play no role in this game so if two players table the same hand, it will be a split pot. The only role that suits play would be if you make a flush and in that case you should be folding as quickly as possible!

2-7 Triple Draw Hand Rankings

We’ve already discussed the best possible hand in 2-7 Triple Draw so now let’s discuss hand to avoid. Any flush is a garbage hand, as is a straight so let’s get that out of the way now. With that in mind, let’s cover other weak hands, then medium strength hands, and other premium hands you will want to play.

Weak hands would include any hands with three of a kind such as 7,7,7,5,4. Likewise any hand with a small pair such as 4,4,5,6,7 are no-no’s as well. Medium strength hands would be hands with a face card but a few low cards such as Q,J,T,8,5. Other premium hands that you will likely want to play to showdown would include:

9,7,6,4,3

8,6,4,3,2

7,6,4,3,2

7,5,4,3,2

Remember no Aces played here because they’re always high. If you’re just starting out at this game you may want to place a sticky-note on your monitor if you’re on a site like PokerStars to remind yourself. Those can be costly mistakes!